Rangers legend Graeme Souness has blasted councillors who refused his plans for an industrial development which could have created thousands of news Amazon jobs.
The former Gers player and manager claims North Lanarkshire Council is blocking the multi-million pound project because of its links to him, rather than the project’s merits.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, he said it showed there was “something fundamentally wrong with the system” and added: 鈥淚 have to believe it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 involved in it.鈥
Souness’ firm Orchard Brae has been developing the plans for Europark, opposite Eurocentral near Coatbridge, for almost a decade.
The plans would see the creation of almost 1,000 homes, a football academy, two schools, a community centre and business space.
Amazon was in talks with the firm to create 2,000 jobs with a new warehouse while there were also discussions about an apprenticeship academy.
However, councillors voted against the plans this month after campaigners highlighted environmental fears and argued it would destroy greenbelt land.
Souness spoke out days after Amazon announced a 拢40billion investment in the UK starting with two -fulfilment centres in the East Midlands, creating thousands of jobs.
He said: 鈥淥ur consultants were actively talking to multiple multi-national companies. We had people very keen to get involved and that option is no longer there.
鈥淣orth Lanarkshire should be the engine room of Scotland.
鈥淭his was an opportunity to create a better life for the people of that area and further afield.
鈥淐irca 拢1billion was spent on a motorway to encourage growth and they鈥檙e sitting with Eurocentral offices half full. That must be an embarrassment. The council are talking about a crisis in their funding next year, circa 拢30million which will mean services are going to go down.鈥
Souness acknowledged concerns over greenbelt land but said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not exactly the rolling hills of Perthshire. It鈥檚 a canal with more supermarket trollies than the local Tesco in it, and it鈥檚 a dumping ground for tyres.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something fundamentally wrong with the system if these councillors see it this way.鈥
Orchard Brae is able to appeal the planning decision to ministers. Souness said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeking advice on what our next steps should be.鈥
North Lanarkshire Council declined to comment on Souness’ remarks.
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